Ilkay Gundogan has become the first signing of Pep Guardiola’s reign at Manchester City.
The Citizen’s secured the Germany international for a fee in the region of £20 million from the Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.
Following the transfer of Gundogan to Manchester City, we thought it would only be right to take a closer look at midfielder playmaker.
Name: Ilkay Gundogan
Age: 25
Position: Central midfielder
Club: Manchester City
Nation: Germany (16 caps, four goals)
Who is Gündoğan?
The German city of Gelsenkirchen is famous for coal, Schalke 04 football club and some of the finest Turkish players in the history of the game. Mesut Özil, the Altıntop twins, Kaan Ayhan and Gündoğan himself and all herald from the mining town.
Career
Gundogan kicked off his career with a spell in the Schalke youth setup however, he signed his first professional contract at Bochum in 2005. The midfield playmaker was later signed by FC Nurnberg as a highly rated 18-year-old in 2009.
Gundogan shined at Nurnberg and quickly establish himself in the German top flight. The talented midfielder helping his side avoid relegation in his first season, and pushed on the following year scoring five goals and securing a sixth-placed finish.
Dortmund were able to sign rising-star from their rivals for £3 million back in 2011.
After enduring a tough start to his Dortmund career Gundogan became a central figure in his new sides midfield in 2012 as they secured a German Cup and Bundesliga double. Gundogan’s form also earned him place in Germany’s squad for the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.
In the 2012-13 season Gundogan played a pivotal role in Dortmund’s UEFA Champions League run to the final where they were edged out by rivals Bayern Munich.
Gundogan suffered a long-term back problem the following season which ruled him out from August 2013 until October last year.
However, the midfielder returned to full-fitness this season and has seven assists and three goals in 40 appearances for Dortmund this term.
Position:
Gundogan plays as a central midfield playmaker for both club and country and generally partnered with a robust defensive midfielder.
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